New Way to Roller Skate

      My daughter called and asked me to make a Get Well card for a neighbor of hers who fell while roller skating with her grandkids.  She has a serious hip break and it'll take a while for her to heal up completely.   Much as I would love to take credit for the sentiment, when my daughter saw this image in my collection, she suggested a reference to roller skating.  lol

      The image is from QKR Stampede and I colored it with ProMarkers & water color pencils.  I cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box, and I inked the edges of it before adhering it to the background.  The background piece was cut and embossed with a plate die from Poppystamps.  I inked the edges of that so that I had little pops of red in the image, around the cut image, and around the edge of the background.  I did the same with the sentiment which I printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  Inside it has a simple, "Get Well Soon."

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Calendar

Do Al(l) Kreatives

Gem of a Challenge

Incy Wincy 

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

Sheepski Designs

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Turkey Time

     It's time for the next FarmQuest General Store challenge, and our themes are always "Anything Country Goes."  Yes, it has to have a 'country' look or feel but beyond that, it's anything goes.

     Since this is our Thanksgiving month here in the USA, I focused on the most traditional part of a family Thanksgiving feast, the turkey.  This turkey image is a gray-scale sketch but I used Sanjoki markers to change it to sepia-toned.  The sentiment was merged at the bottom of the image before printing.  I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios and inked the edges with a coffee brown Sanjoki marker.

     The background dp came from a 'Calico' stack by DCWV and the colors and scattering of blossoms seemed perfect for a late fall card.  There's a small swipe of Stickles added to each tiny flower for just a hint of sparkle.  I die cut a bit of creamy burlap paper using a butterfly die from Poppy (Memory Box) and added a tiny seed bead to the center (old, old, OLD Stampin' Up stash which I found after cleaning out and reorganizing a desk drawer!) 

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Dream Valley

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Poppy Stamps

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

Triple B

     I have a second post going live in just a couple of minutes for the November FQ Country Christmas Challenge so be sure to check out that one, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Patch

      If Linus (from the Peanuts cartoon) plans on sitting in his pumpkin patch this Halloween, waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive, he's apt to run into this adorable witch from Star Stampz.  This is another of those images I had printed last fall which then ended up in a folder waiting to be colored.
     

     So, I grabbed my Sanjoki markers, colored the image, and then cut it with a stitched die from Memory Box.  The background haunted house dp (Paper Pizazz) was a scrap I had on hand, and I cut a crescent out of the image piece with a smaller die from that same Memory Box set of dies.  I chose one which had a round shape because I wanted to cut away enough of the image so that the haunted house would show but not ruin the image.  Cutting a crescent fit the bill perfectly.  

     The orange strip down the left side is actually a scrap of fall ribbon and the bats were cut with dies from Impression Obsession.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time

Archi-scraps

Classic Design

Creatalicious

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld
Outside the Box

SheepSki Designs (Halloween is definitely a fav!)

Two Old Bats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Bird

      Nothing Christmas today, but a card for another holiday close in time, Thanksgiving.  This card features the image for the Progressive challenge at The Outlawz this month and I just thought that darling little bird looked like he was wishing either his tree still had leaves on it or that he was inside that big, warm barn instead of perched on his bare branch.  

     The background is a clip art pencil sketch and, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot read the artist's signature. But I did leave it visible just below the sentiment piece as a way of giving proper credit.

     I colored the bird image with ProMarkers, and cut both the image and the frame using octagon dies from QuicKutz.  The sentiment piece and the tiny leaves were both cut with dies from Memory Box.  I inked the edges of the background sketch before mounting everything onto the card front.  The sentiment itself is a rubber stamp, old enough that the name of the maker has long ago peeled off.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Dream Valley

Gem of a Challenge

Paper Dragonfly

     Have a wonderful second day of your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Whoo Loves Ya?

     I've been playing in the Outlaw Progressive Challenge for more than a decade now, and I think I've only missed 1 month in all that time, and that was due to being hospitalized with Covid pneumonia for nearly 3 weeks.  This month, we've been given a fantastic owl image from Sandra and I chose to color it using both my Sanjoki markers and water color paints, along with gel pen highlights.

     After coloring it, I cut both the image and the frame with Memory Box dies.   The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The frame was embossed using my Linen EF.   The dark blue background was made with water colors.   I added tiny, metallic brads to two of the corners and called it finished.  Nice, masculine, CAS design.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Cupcake Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble (mono, blue, die cuts, brads)

Dream Valley

Outside the Box

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

     See you tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Gardener's Birthday

      Another Friday, another challenge at Crafty Catz.  We always have "Anything Goes" as our theme but we also offer you an OPTIONAL twist if you choose to use it.  This week, the twist is "Add Some Flowers."  Our lovely sponsor is The Paper Shelter and they generously provided images for the DT to use.  This one is called "The Sweet Gardener."  They are offering a delightful prize of 3 digital images!

     I reversed the image before printing it, then colored it with Sanjoki markers and gel pens.  I cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  I cut some small flowers with an X-Cut die (over doing the add some flowers twist!) and the butterflies were cut with a Memory Box die.  The background dp is from Recollections.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.

     Challenges:

(links for these will be added later)

     I hope you're going to come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you.  Also, on this Memorial Day weekend, if you see a veteran or know one, be sure to thank them for their service.  They have given so much for so many.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Crazy Island

       With our strange weather (high 90 degree F days already and for several days in a row - what happened to Spring???), the OPTIONAL theme of our challenge at Crafty Catz this week is perfect - "Summer."  Of curse, we're always an Anything Goes challenge but we give you a fun optional topic if you want to use it.

     Our sponsor for this challenge is Mirtillamente and the image I used is called "Crazy Island."  They are offering a prize of 2 images of your choice from their store.

     I colored the image with Sanjoki markers and highlights were done with a white gel pen.  I cut the image with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  The square frame was cut with a die from Lawn Fawn.  I thought the two different stitched dies worked well together and I like the opposition of a circle and a square.

     The background 'denim' dp is a scrap from a Recollections stack and the flowers came from Petaloo.

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Gem of a Challenge

LeighSBDesigns

Lil Patch of ...

MFT Outside the Box

Pammie's IP

Paper Dragonfly

Passion for Markers

     

     Come play along with us this week.  You could be the winner!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Zinnia

      I'm finally back with a post after a few days off with a cold or maybe a sinus infection, but whichever it is, it has just laid me low with no energy to even get out of bed.  But I'm on the upswing and decided to get this one posted before I forget it again.

     Last month, I was posting my card for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz on the last possible day at almost the last possible hour and I don't want to do that again.  The image they gave us is this lovely zinnia in a bottle and I made another card to add to my birthday stash.

     I colored with a combination of Sanjoki markers, gel pens, and water colors.  Can you guess which part is with which medium?  No, no, I'm not going to tell; I'll just let you guess.  :-D  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and inked the edges with a marker.  The background dp is from a Paper House stack.  The butterflies were cut with a Memory Box die and the "Celebrate" sentiment was done with a Tim Holtz die by Sizzix.

     Challenges:

CRAFT-alnica

Creative Inspiration

Creative Knockouts

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Triple B

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today but I'll have another post tomorrow for the new challenge at Crafty Catz.  Do stop by then, won't you?  NanaConnie

Easter Dragon

      You're going to see probably 2 posts per day for at least the next week so that I can share all the Easter cards I've been making, trying to get all the ones for family and friends finished, plus the ones for the craft fair next Friday where I'm going to have a vendor booth.  I searched for and printed several free, clip art images (some pre-colored and some not) in addition to the ones I've hand colored and for hte last 2 days, I've been putting cards together.

     The one I'm sharing today will be my eldest granddaughter's card because she's the one who adores dragons as much as I do.  This image shows you exactly what happens when the wrong kind of eggs - meaning not CHOCOLATE! - get put into the Easter Basket. :-D  

     I colored the image (from Crafty Moments) with ProMarkers, then cut it with a Memory Box, pin point die.  The background papers are from BLD, a company new to me, but the paper pack was a gift and I really love them.  Those two papers happen to be from a single sheet of two sided paper which worked perfectly for my color combo.

     I added the sentiment after I cut it and inked the edges, then made a hand-sewed bow using satin ribbon.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Double D

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Simon Says

     Don't worry, my granddaughter never checks my blog so she won't see this until Easter.  But you can check again in about an hour wen my second post for today will be live.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Empty without You

     It's time for another new challenge over at FarmQuest and our theme is all about Mason Jars!  I found this image in my collection of digital images and I suspect it's an old Doodle Pantry image but I'm not totally sure about that.  Doodle Pantry closed a few years back so there's no way for me to pop over to their store and check it out.  

     I colored the jar with ProMarkers and metallic gel pens, then fussy cut it with scissors.  I printed the sentiment, fussy cut it, and added it to the tag (which is part of the image.)  I mounted those onto a deep blue card base.  The tiny hearts were cut with Memory Box dies and added to give it a touch of love since this is Valentine's Day!  :-D

     Challenges:

CRAFT-alnica

Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Friends

Cupcake Inspiration

Get Creative

Incy Wincy

Outlawz Friday

Outside the Box (Memory Box heart dies)

Paper Shelter

There's a Stamp ...

     I hope you'll come and play with us at FarmQuest.  The challenge runs until the 28th of February so you have a full two weeks to enter something which fits the Mason Jar theme.  

    

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Purr-fect Love

      This is a card with no stamped or digital images, just die cuts and a sentiment.  Vey simple, really, and pretty clean, too, so CAS?  ;-D  

     The circles were cut with dies from Dare2BArtzy, the cats were done with Poppy Stamps dies, and the hearts came from Memory Box dies.  Everything except the card base came from scraps, including the small strip of dp featuring the sentiment (DCWV.)  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     I was inspired to try this by the new Outlawz "No Stamps" Challenge.  It started on the 15th of this month and runs through the 14th of next month.  

     Challenges:

Crazy for Cats

Creations in Pink

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Inspiration Station

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fishing for a Valentine

      I'm going a little crazy this month with Penny Black stamps but a neighbor was clearing out  her craft room and doing an early "spring" cleaning, and she decided that her stamping days were over.  Consequently, I was the happy recipient of a load of stamps, many of which had cute Penny Black critters suitable for Valentine cards.  Can you believe this one had never been used?  How could anyone resist?  I guess  in a way that makes it not only 'new to me' but actually new.  :-D

     The image was colored with a combo of water color paints and ProMarkers, then cut with a stitched and scalloped die from Memory Box.  The sentiment was fussy cut.  I found a crap of that sparkly, mesh ribbon in my stash, wrapped it around a red card blank, and added both the image and the sentiment.  A really simple and fast card.

I chose colors from My Favorite Things and 

used all of them in coloring the image.

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

Outlawz Thurs

Pammie's IP

Penny Black Sat

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says Weds

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flowers for a Valentine

       I had so much fun making this DT card for the January Challenge at Conie Fong.  Our theme is Anything Goes using a Conie Fong image.  The image I chose is called "Feeling Fabulous" and I colored her in pinks and reds for a Valentine card, although she's no made as as Valentine image.  Isn't she an adorable little ragamuffin?

     She's colored with water colors and ProMarkers, a combination I love.   I used a Tonic Studios die to cut the image and the pink mat, which I embossed with my Linen die.  The corners of the image were punched with a Fiskars die and it was layered onto a scrap of black CS.   Following the sketch at Sketch Saturday, I began putting the card together, adding little die cut bits (Memory Box) to the upper and lower corner of the framed image.  

Sketch Saturday

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Creations in Pink

Die Cut Divas

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Papercraft

Polkadoodles

Taylormadecards ...

There's a Stamp ...

     Happy Crafting.  Come play with us this month.  NanaConnie

Ferret Love

      As I was making Valentine cards, I had a request from my eldest granddaughter for a card done in purple which featured a ferret.  She wanted it for a friend who loves ferrets and whose favorite color is purple (mine, too!)  She wanted this image used on the card so, of  course, I complied.  A new image for me!

     I love the pencil sketch aspect (although I have no idea who drew it but will happily give credit if anyone knows) and printed it onto lavender CS.  I used a ProMarker to add a frame of red around the heart, then cut the image with a die from Memory Box.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and the edges were inked with another ProMarker.

     I cut another, larger rectangle with another Memory Box die and layered the two together on angles.  I put those onto a white CS background and added three flowers with gems from Petaloo.  The flowers were given to me by my granddaughter (given to her by another friend who's clearing out old crafting supplies) and although they are old, they are new to me.  Thanks, Granddaughter!  All of this made for a fun, CAS card for her friend on Valentine's Day.  My granddaughter hasn't seen it yet, but I know she'll love it.

     My favorite reason for sending cards is any holiday, whether they be world wide (like Christmas), national (like 4th of July), or personal (like birthdays.)  So having a good reason to make a Valentine card that will be sent to someone who appreciates it is a wonderful thing.  Of course, the real reason I send them is so that I have a way to get rid of all the cards I make instead of having them pile up around me, creating a serious danger of being buried under a ton of paper!  lol

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

As You Like It

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

Outlawz Thursday

Pattie's Creations

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cowboy Jack-o-Lantern

      I've done another Halloween card for today, this time using a cute QKR Stampede image called "Cowboy Pumpkin."  The "Happy Halloween" sentiment is also from QKR.  I colored with ProMarkers, and fussy cut the jack-o-lantern with scissors.  The silhouettes in the background were cut with dies from Memory Box & Die-Versions.  

     I wanted to add some texture to the card so I chose burlap cloth for the background.  Everything was mounted onto a Kraft card base.

This is also my Day 27 entry for the
 LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

 

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

CRAFT

Creative Inspirations

Inspiration Station (pumpkin)

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper Crafty

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat in the Window

      I've been going through my boxes of dies again and this one popped out at me.  It's been a long time since I used it and I thought it would make a good autumn card, but with non-traditional colors.  The Cat in the Window die is an Unbranded die and the cloud was cut with a Memory Box die.

     The card base was dry embossed with an EF from Darice.  The "ribbon" along the left side is actually washi tape but the signature, hand-sewn bow was sewn using satin ribbon and I added a pearl.

Today is the third day of the six day Cat Lovers Hop 2022.

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...

Crafty Catz

Happy Li'l Stampers

Paperbabe

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

There's a Stamp ...

World Wide Open

     If you're signed up for the 2022 Cat Lovers Hop but haven't started playing yet, you can still enter up to 5 cat themed projects before 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, Saturday, October 29.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wynona Witch

      Here's my second post for today and my DT card features a delightful image from Conie Fong called "Wynona Pumpkin Kitty."  It's a new release and it's also ON SALE !!

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and water color paints, then cut it with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  The background dp came from Taylor Made.  I love the pumpkins on it.  :-D  I added one of my signature bows, sewn with a pearl this time.  As is my usual procedure, I make these from white ribbon and then I 'dye' them with a ProMarker to be whatever color I need for the particular card design.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Leigh SB Designs

Make the Cards

Outlawz Festive Fri

Outside the Box

Paperbabe

Simon Says Stamp

     Come play in our challenges at Conie Fong's FB site.  You must use a Conie Fong image but you can enter either hand colored images or completed projects (cards, journal pages, scrapbook pages, etc.)  You could win some really sweet Conie Fong images.  Don't have any CF images to use to enter?  Check out the freebies available and use one of those.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mummy Wants Candy

      I've been digging through an old set of manila folders I found stashed in a box and one of them held Halloween images which were waiting to be colored.  The one I used for this card had a notation on the back which said "Meljen's" so I'm assuming she was the artist.  I know her store closed a few years back and, unfortunately, that's one of the artists whose images I lost when my thumb drive crashed 2 years ago.  I'm heartbroken over losing her images.

     I love this mummy with his jack-o-lantern candy bucket, trotting off for a night of Trick or Treat.  Every kid knows that's the best way to celebrate the night on Halloween!

     I colored him with ProMarkers, then cut him with a Tutti Designs stitched circle die.  The spider webs were cut with a die from Memory Box.  I hate to admit how many years I had that die and never used it, but it's been used now.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die and the bat in the top corner was cut with an Impression Obsession die.

This is also my Day 4 entry into the 

LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. 

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Country View Craft

Crafty Friends

LeighSB 31 Days

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

Outside the Box

Simon Says Stamp

Taylormadecards ...

The Four Seasons

     That's all I have for today but since I'm playing in a 31 Days of Halloween challenge or two, I think I may have a post each day this month.  Feels like old times when I regularly posted every day.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer's End

      It's the end of summer and all the vacationers are heading home.  Airports are filled, train terminals are jammed with people and luggage, even the highways are clogged with cars and trucks burdened with suitcases, backpacks, and boxes of souvenirs loaded into the trunk or tied onto the roof rack.

     This sweet image is from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World and it's perfect for today's Heading Home theme.  I colored with ProMarkers, and used Memory Box dies to cut  both the image and the embossed frame piece ('Linen' EF.)  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The butterfly background dp was a scrap in the basket.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's

Die Cut Divas

Leigh SB Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paper Dragonfly

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

National Dance Day

      Did you know that today is National Dance Day?  I knew there was such a thing but I never remember what day of the year it is.  I do usually remember that it's some time in September.  Anyway, my card today celebrates the day with a Vienna Waltz.  :-D

    Everything on this card was done with scraps from the basket.  The image is an svg file and the image background was cut with a die from my very first Spellbinders set, basic squares.  The cutwork portion of the black card front was cut with a Memory Box die.  In keeping with my use of scraps, I used three of the bits which fell out of that cutwork to make the embellishments on the image piece.  I added tiny gemstones to those 3 bits.  The bow is one of my signature bows, sewn by hand and with a pearl added.  How's that for a perfect monochromatic, scrap card?

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fri

Pammie's Inky ...

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Dance Day, whatever type of dancing you love.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie